A stronger appeal for a neutral-host model with CBRS

The regulatory framework of CBRS in the 3.5 GHz band in the US enables a new way to use spectrum in commercial networks, with network operators sharing it with legacy users and among themselves. It also promotes innovation in the deployment and business models of operators, venue owners, enterprises and neutral hosts, and in the overall wireless ecosystem. I talked about the evolution of the wireless ecosystem driven by CBRS with Derek Peterson, CTO of Boingo Wireless. CBRS bring together the benefits of Wi-Fi and LTE. “Wi-Fi was our first foray into unlicensed spectrum as a group and as an industry. Now we’re sharing spectrum. CBRS in 3.5, and possibly in other ranges in the future. It fits perfectly with what we do with neutral-host cellular and Wi-Fi networks that we’ve been deploying,” Derek told us. In the 3.5 GHz band, multiple applications and multiple service providers can operate using the same network. That brings a huge improvement in the business case for small cells and widens the opportunity for neutral host models in which the same small cell can be shared by the venue and service providers, as well as hosting public safety services.